Blown amps?

[memphis_raines]

I have an amp rack hanging in the trunk with 2 amps on it, one for speakers, one for subs. One main power wire runs to the back of the car into a splitter that runs a power wire to each amp. I was taking the bolt off the amp rack to remove it and the wrench I was using accidentally hit the splitter. There was a spark and a little wisp of smoke out of the splitter, and after I put everything back together, I get no sound from the speakers or subs. I checked the fuses going to the amps, and neither of them are blown. Are the amps fried, or is there some way to fix this?

[flamingchicken]

Re: Blown amps?

normally you can take off the bottom of the amp and look for burnt spots.

[ssms5411]

Re: Blown amps?

Normally you should take your fueses out or disconnect the battery, but even when you do that there ae capaciters inside the amp that are still charged and when sparked they can blow. But yours sounds like the input side may have blown since the spark and smoke. Or it could be a transitor on the input or output, or like flaming side check and see if you can see any burnt spots.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Blown amps?

The amp's themselves should have fuses built into them also, check those.

If your amp is blown, usually it should still power on and go into protect mode. Check for a LED on the amp that says power / protect and see if its doing anything.

Seems a bit unusual both amps would go at the same time.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Blown amps?

Also, take a digital voltmeter and test for 12V before the power wire splitter and after it at each amp.

I dont know what kind of splitter your using, but seems odd that it smoked?

This is the type of power distribution block I use on my truck's and boat... I cant imagine it would ever smoke

[T-Mill]

Re: Blown amps?

There was probably just some smoke from the spark itself?

When you hit the splitter, you grounded it causing the short to run from the splitter through the wrench and into the car (ground), the voltage wouldn't have necessarily ever gone through the amps... My guess is that the amps are fine, but that they're just not getting power. Do you have inline fuses after the splitter going to each amp? If they're not blown chances are the amps are fine, or like StrtRacer98 said, check for internal fuses on the amps themselves; they might be a lower amp than your inline fuse... otherwise just check all of your connections with a voltmeter...

GL

[memphis_raines]

Re: Blown amps?

Yes, the splitter is similar to the one in the picture, and there is an inline fuse going to each amp after the splitter. When I checked them, neither fuse was blown.

[ssms5411]

Re: Blown amps?

The amp's themselves should have fuses built into them also, check those.

If your amp is blown, usually it should still power on and go into protect mode. Check for a LED on the amp that says power / protect and see if its doing anything.

Seems a bit unusual both amps would go at the same time.

Not all amps have built in fuses , my GT42 does 2 70 amp fuses but my old PPI 2300 didn't had to add 2 60 amp fuses. I got a new Hifonics Brutis 1700D.1 and it doesn't have built in fuses either had to buy a 160 ANL fuse and holder for it.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Blown amps?

Yes, the splitter is similar to the one in the picture, and there is an inline fuse going to each amp after the splitter. When I checked them, neither fuse was blown.

Check with a voltmeter then, It is possible that its not making a connection.. The fuse could be bad. Ive seen it before, the fuse burnt up right at the end of the fuse and not in the center. It could also be an issue with the splitter not making a connection.

[memphis_raines]

Re: Blown amps?

Now that i've had a little more time to look, each amp has an clear RF emblem that lights up red when the amps are functioning properly. Neither one will light up now, like they aren't getting power.